Page 78 of The Paris Chapter

Ethan looked at me alarmed. ‘Shit, are you okay?’ He reached out to stroke the tear away.

‘Yes. That was really something,’ I said, embarrassed for getting emotional.

He touched my lips and smiled. ‘It really was. No regrets then?’

I shook my head, unable to speak.

‘I don’t know what you unleashed in me but God, I fucking loved it,’ he said, arching an eyebrow.

‘Me too,’ I said, smiling. I didn’t think he would ever really understand what it had meant to me to feel like I could be myself with him, to enjoy it fully and not be worried about anything while we were together – to be present and embrace the moment without overthinking like I usually did.

Ethan watched me as if he was trying to figure out what was going on. ‘It’s pretty special being with someone like that, isn’t it?’ he said softly then, like he knew exactly what I was feeling right now.

‘Yes.’ I leaned in to kiss him, hoping my lips would be enough when words had failed me spectacularly. I kissed him passionately and he murmured against my mouth, pulling me closer into his chest. When we finally leaned back, we both smiled. ‘Really special,’ I agreed in a whisper. ‘So, what now?’

Ethan twirled a strand of my hair in his fingers. ‘I have an idea.’

38

I didn’t expect Ethan to leave my bedroom and return with the chessboard we had bought together in Paris. I laughed as he climbed onto the bed wearing just his jeans, his chest and feet bare, his hair tousled from our activities, his face flushed, looking extremely delicious, and set it up between us. ‘This is what you want to do now?’

‘I’m thinking while you’re distracted, I might just be able to win,’ he said, smiling as he placed the pieces on the board.

‘Oh, you think I’m distracted?’ I had pulled my thong back on, but my top half was naked under the covers so I sat up, letting the duvet fall off me, revealing my bare chest. ‘Two can play that game.’

Ethan stopped what he was doing to look at me. ‘You have to put a top on; that’s blatant cheating.’

‘There’s no referee here. You first,’ I said, a smile playing on my lips.

Ethan’s breath hitched. He shook his head but forced his eyes down onto the board. ‘Fine. I can do this. And when I win, I will claim my reward,’ he said, reminding me of the reward he’dgiven me back in Paris. A very satisfying reward. My breath hitched this time and I saw him smile when he heard it as he moved his first pawn.

‘What if I win, I also get a reward?’ I asked, reaching for my first piece and moving it forwards.

‘Loser decides what it is,’ Ethan said. He looked up and our eyes met. ‘Really struggling to keep my eyes up,’ he said softly.

‘Good.’ I leaned forward and took his pawn. ‘I’m actually getting chilly.’ I grinned at Ethan, who groaned.

‘Nope, not looking,’ he said, focusing on the board. I saw him adjust himself and I bit my lip. ‘Stop it, Tessa.’

‘No idea what you’re talking about,’ I said innocently. Then I watched as he took a knight from me. ‘Hey!’

After that, we lapsed into silence, concentrating on the board, trying not to look at one another until only a few of our pieces remained.

‘Check,’ I said in triumph when I moved my queen. I looked up at him then.

Ethan frowned and sat for a moment but then I saw his lips curve into a smile. ‘Actually…’ He moved his queen. ‘Checkmate.’ Only then did he meet my eyes.

I stared at the board in shock. ‘How did I not see that? That was a sneaky manoeuvre, Taylor.’

‘I actually won,’ he said in disbelief.

‘No one likes a gloater,’ I said sulkily.

‘And now I can look…’ His eyes drank in my naked top half. ‘I really deserve a reward for getting through that with you in front of me looking that sexy. Look at you.’ He shook his head.

‘Okay, I might let you off for wining,’ I said, my body humming from his words and attention.

‘I have a confession to make,’ he said, lifting the board off the bed and placing it on the floor. He crawled across the bedtowards me. I laid back down as he leaned over me on his elbows.

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