Page 98 of Unfolding Ethan

She sat on the bed and I winced internally when she looked over how many wounds I had.Uh-oh.

“Did you really have to start a fight?” she asked, her voice firm.

I clenched my jaw. “Yes. If you had heard what he said about you and then teasing Rio for . . .” I sighed. “You would have done the same, Kiara. I just used my fists more.”

“And look what happened.” She shook her head and pulled her hand from mine. I wanted to pull her closer when tears glistened in her eyes. “You know what? Yes, I am fucking hurt.Youhurt me. Nothing would have gone wrong if you had just walked away.”

I winced at her tone and didn't say anything, watching her chest heave with anger and hurt. She hastily wiped the tears from her cheeks. "You should have just walked away, E.”

Her lower lip was quivering, and she was biting on it to not let her voice break. I licked my lips and calmly said, “They were verbally harassing Rio. Paul knew you had left crying and I punched him.”

She squeezed her eyes shut. "You could've died!"

Kiara looked at me, tears burning in her eyes. "Do you . . . Do you know how terrifying it was for me to listen to Katherine tell me you are unconscious and in the hospital? It all felt the same when I drove here thinking that I would lose you too. I don’t know what I would do if something happened to you.”

"I wassoscared, Ethan,” she whispered. “I don't ever want to see you get hurt. You'retoospecial to me because I love you.”

I froze listening to her words. She snapped her wide eyes at me, and her lips parted as she realized what she had said.

“Say that again,” I said, sitting up and ignoring her concern. “Say it, Kiara.”

She touched my cheek. “I love you, Ethan, and I don’t want to see you like this. Ever again.”

I was grinning now. My best friend loved me. Kiara Sharma loved me. I wanted to go and tell my mothers about this and yell it to the world that Kiara Sharma, my best friend, loved me.

“I love you too, Bella,” I said and pulled her closer, hugging her tightly, and took a deep breath when her coconut scent wafted over me, her hands clutching mine.

She pulled away, her wide chocolatey eyes staring up at me. “You do?”

“Yes, fuck yes!” I laughed and kissed her. “I love you so much, Bella.”

She grinned when we kissed clumsily and I pressed her closer to me, wanting to embrace and kiss every part of the woman I loved. I kissed away her tears until she was laughing for me to stop it because it was ticklish.

“Say it again, Kiara,” I whispered, kissing her neck, “I want to hear you say it.”

“I love you, Ethan,” she said it so sweetly that I wanted to capture her saying that in something so I could get high on the sound of her saying those words to me.

I kissed her again gently, passionately, pouring all the love I had for her in that kiss. Her hands stayed on my chest, scrunching the dull minted T-shirt. I cupped her cheek and held her waist so I could pull her closer to me.

We pulled away, our foreheads leaning against each other as we both panted for more air. We laughed when the monitor in the background kept beeping loudly because of our kiss.

Twenty Seven

Love

Kiara

After three days, we celebrated Ethan's birthday in his hospital room. By we I mean me, Rio, Volt, and Katherine, with his mothers’ permission that we wouldn't make much noise and wouldn't let him eat any sugary sweets. Katherine made sure that after some time, they would leave us alone so I could give him my own present.

His present was the sketch I had earlier made for him and a blow job. We didn't have much time, but we both managed it and I was grinning widely at him when he came in my mouth, the heart monitor beeping loudly as he panted with the release.

“I love you so fucking much, Kiara,” he had rasped, his voice hoarse. “Come here.” Ethan had pulled me on his lap, kissing me.

I was staying with him and when the night ended, we were cuddling and talking about everything and nothing. I kissed him when he said it was his best birthday ever; minus the part when he wanted to have sex. I had turned him down. Nonetheless, we both had a great time.

I was in my room, sitting on the piano seat and playing soft notes. My eyes were closed as my fingers flitted over the keys. Goose bumps raised in my arms when I felt his warm breath, his lips kissing my neck.

I opened my eyes and smiled at him. “Hi.”

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