Page 74 of The Paris Chapter

I just didn’t know if Ethan was willing to take a leap along with me.

‘I want that,’ Ethan said. ‘So badly.’

‘Ethan, you reminded me how much I love to write, you showed me Paris and inspired me with it, and you made me want to open my heart again. In fact, I think you prised my heart open with your fingers. You made me fall in love with Paris. You gave me back my writing spark. And stopped me believing that love was dead.’

Ethan shook his head. ‘If I did any of that, it’s because you inspired me. When I walked out of the bathroom in that apartment and saw you, I couldn’t stay away from you. Everything about you made me want to stay by your side, to try to make you smile, to make you happy again.’

‘I think you have more of a way with words than me, damn it,’ I said, his words sending a thrill through my body. I smiled. ‘I’m sorry for walking away from you in Paris.’

‘No, I’m sorry for making you walk away from me.’ Ethan reached out and touched my hand. ‘Is this okay?’ he asked as his fingers interlinked with mine.

‘I wanted to touch you all night,’ I replied simply. ‘So, what now?’ I asked, wondering what the next step for us should be.

Ethan made a pained expression then.

‘What’s wrong?’ I asked nervously.

‘I’m trying really hard not to say what I want to say,’ he replied.

That didn’t sound good. ‘You better just say it,’ I told him, bracing myself for another obstacle to be put in our way.

‘You remember when you begged me to kiss you in Paris?’ he asked gruffly. ‘I’m trying really hard not to beg you to let me kiss you now.’

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I smiled; I couldn’t help it. I wanted him to beg me. I wanted him to kiss me. ‘Hmm. Quite the conundrum,’ I teased.

‘Is it too soon?’ Ethan asked, smiling back at me.

‘I like the idea of you begging me, I can’t lie,’ I confessed. It had been too long since his lips had been on mine. I watched his eyes flick to my lips and I cleared my throat. ‘Eyes on my eyes, Taylor,’ I said sternly. He lifted them immediately. ‘We should take this slowly,’ I said, enjoying the fact he wanted me as much as I wanted him.

Ethan nodded. ‘Okay. Yeah, you’re right.’

‘Am I? Or do I just enjoy torturing you?’

‘I know you do. Remember that night in Paris when you stripped naked in front of me when I was trying to be a gentleman?’ he asked, rubbing his thumb against my hand still linked with his.

I grinned at the memory of that night. ‘I was very impressed you stayed on the bed.’

‘Maybe next time, I’ll do the same to you,’ Ethan suggested playfully. ‘See if you can keep your hands off me.’

I cleared my throat. ‘We should change the subject or you should kiss me because I am slowly dying.’

‘I’m enjoying turning the tables and torturing you now,’ Ethan replied.

‘If you like that sort of thing, I have some handcuffs somewhere.’

Ethan spluttered.

‘Carly’s hen do,’ I explained with a shrug.

Ethan closed his eyes again and breathed. ‘God’s sake, now I really want to see them.’

I grinned. ‘I bet. How about you kiss me and then maybe I’ll go and find them?’

‘Tessa, I’ve wanted to kiss you since I saw you in Bon Appétit. But are you really sure this is what you want? That I am who you want?’ He looked unsure again. I realised it would take time to trust this thing between us, but I really wanted us both to.

‘Yes, Ethan. Am I who you want?’

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